Illuminated flagpole



Sept. 20, 1932.

R. M. SUTPHEN ILLUMINATED F'LAGPOLE Filed Feb. 20, 1951 l j/f,

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES;

" `ROBERT MORRIS SUTIPI-IEN, OF NEWARK,

` lavan? NE'VV JERSEY,'ASSIGNOR TO PFAFF AND KEN DALI., OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ILLUMINATED FLAGPOLE Application led February 20, '1931. Serial No. 517,140. n

This invention relates to Hag poles and more particularly to means for illuminating flag poles and flags carried thereby.

Heretofore, flags have been illuminated by powerful lights positioned at the base or above the flag pole, or in some instances the source of illumination is mounted in a support positioned at one side of the pole. Such lmethods of flag illumination have been found inefficient and objectionable in that sources of illumination are stationary and consequently are not able to properly illuminate a flag in the various positions it assumes due to change in direction of the wind.

As a result, the flag may be brilliantly7 illuminated at one instant, and in the next instant the liag may not be seen at all. Also, it is not always possible to iind a convenient and desirable place to mount the source of j .pole carrying in its upper end adjacent the flag a plurality of light sources of different colors.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, are accomplished by the simple and practical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 represents an elevational view of a flag pole embodying the invention.

Figure 2 represents a partial sectional view of the upper end of a flag pole showing details of the invention.

Figure 8 represents a sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2. v

Figure 4 represents asectional view of `a modified form of the device.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view taken y a section of translucent material having iiguresthereon.

Figure 7` represents a sectional view of an internally illuminated ball at the top `of a flag pole.A

Referring to the drawing, a flag pole 8 is shown' to be formed from a plurality of tubular metal sections`9,`a flag 10 being mounted in a well known manner at the upper end o f thepole. Adjacent the flag, the section 1l of the'pole is made from a translucent material such as glass or the like. The section 11 is supported at its lower end by a plug 12 which fits in `the adjacent tubular section 9. Integ-ral with the plug 12 is a tube 13 having its upper end connected toV a collar 24: which assists in holding the translucent section 11 in position. Y

Positioned in the section 11 and mounted on the center tube 13 are a plurality of groups of light tubes 14, land 16 which carry gases to produce lights ofdiiferent colors. For example groups lli, and 16 may, respectively, v

produce red, white and blue lights.

The electrical connections for the lights pass through the tube lland the tubular sections 9 to a source of electrical supply. The tube 13 is provided with spaced apertures though the connections may be made to the light tubes.

With'Y the structure above described, it is! seen that the upper end of the flag pole is completely illuminated (from the inside) on all sides so that regardless of the position of the flag, the latter will be elfectively illuminated at all times. The lights maybe all of the samecolor, or they may be of different colors.

Vhen'a plurality of colors are used, pleasing and unusual color combinations are ob-l tained as the flag waves in the breeze. For example, the blue'light will producea violet hue on a red Hag, and the same light would cause a yellow flag to appear green. As the flagfmoves into the range of the various lights` of different colors, many col-or variations are obtained, the lagat the same time being constantly illuminated. Y

In'Figure 4 is shown a modified form in which incandescent iilament lamps are n used, the lamps-beingsupported on plug 17,

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which is integral with an upstanding Web 18, the latter dividing the space enclosed by the section 19 of translucent material into a plurality of compartments. The Walls of the Web are highly polished or silvered, and a lamp is positioned in each compartment. If so desired, the lamps may be of different colors.

l dark spots Will appear; and if the figures are made of translucent material of a dierent kind from the material of the section, the figures Will be in diiferent colors depending upon the color of the light source.

In Figure 7 is shown a flag pole 9 having mounted on its top a ball of translucent material, in which is positioned an incandes-v cent lamp 31 or other light source. The ball may be made in various colors, orditferent colored lights may be used as may be desired. By providing an illuminated ball of this type at the top of the pole, it is obvious that the flag Will be illuminated regardless of the position it may assume.

While the invention has been described in connection With a flag pole, it is obviousV that it has Wide application in spectacular dis plays of all kinds in which poles are used, Whether the poles carryy flags or not. Y

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded 'as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or limitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including many modiiications With- V'out departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters y Patent, is

1. In a ag pole, a section formed of translucent material, the section being at least equalin length to the Width of the Hag to be lown from the flag-pole, means for dividing the section into a plurality of longitudinal compartments, andlight sources of different colors mounted in the compartments, Wherel by, as the Hag moves into the range of the various lights of diierent colors, many color variations maybe obtained, the flag at the same time being constantly illuminated.

2. In a flag pole, a section of Wholly translucent material, sai-d section being provided With a plurality of'longitudinal com'- partments, and light sources of different,

colors mounted in the compartments, Whereby, as the flag moves into the range of the various lights of different colors, many color variations may be obtained, the flag at the same time being constantly illuminated.

This specification signed this twenty-seventh day of May, 1931. l

ROBERT MORRIS SUTPHEN.

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